2013 California Options

All of my previous cars have been frost white, deep blue or various stages of gunmetal (Lexus, Honda, BMW's, etc.). In general, I'd never get a red car under almost any circumstances...except this one.

If it was my second of third Ferrari, I might go with Blue Pozzi, or a deeper red like Rosso Fiorano, but for the first Ferrari, I couldn't resist Rosso Corsa (or resale red as many call it). I know it is the ubiquitous Ferrari color, but it works for me. I also have the beige interior, which might look pedestrian on another car, but the worksmanship is done so well, it conveys the understated elegance any good leather job should do.

As with anything that is in the aesthetic realm, the right color will strike you emotionally. If it's red, you made the right choice. Other folks will no doubt talk about all the options (mine has most of them, but I'm sure it will be months before I figure them out). I just put it on sport setting and hit the paddles when my led's start to light up, and I'm happy. I also really enjoy the yellow tach & shields for some reason. I've always loved cars, and it is so cool to drive the best one, it is hard to put into words.

Best Regards, Bob H
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You should read up on this on this forum, as many have had similar questions and there is much info available. To answer some of your questions, the "must have"-ness of Daytona seats is a carryover from past models, but on the California, many have reported that they are not as comfortable as the diamond pattern seats, or even the standard seats. You should see if you can sit in examples of each in order to make up your mind, as it likely depends on your body type and taste preference as to style.

As for red/beige, that is the classic color combo and often seen as the "best" color set for resale (nickname is "resale red"). But many buyers today like Californias in other colors, too(mainly shades of silver, grey and blue). So buy what you like best. Especially if you intend to drive the car often (many use it as a daily driver or near daily driver), you need to consider how comfortable you are with public attention. All Ferraris get more attention than "ordinary" cars, but red (and yellow) tend to get more attention than other Ferraris. You may have preferred silver, blue and black in the past because you don't really like a lot of attention, so getting a similar color in a California will likely help your comfort level in that regard.

Your options list may not be complete, but if it is, consider adding more options. This again varies (so read some threads on this), but many consider Magneride a must (is it standard on 2013s?). If road quality is poor where you drive, I'd pass on the sport suspension option (but still get Magneride). Another "must" seems to be the LED steering wheel. I love using it over the analog tach when driving in a spirited fashion.

A lot of people say these aren't "necessary," but for a GT car that may be driven long distances, I find cruise control very helpful, and a backup camera is very helpful for parallel parking. It's possible to add these later, but they cost much more to retrofit them (e.g. cruise is about $1200 as an option in the U.S. but around $5k to retrofit). In the U.S., there is a Homelink option (garage door opener). Unless you want to have a separate remote rattling around your interior or clipped to your sun visor, consider that option.

For sun lovers who intend to have the top down often, and leave the car parked that way, consider the heat reflective leather option.

Also, while most buyers don't option their cars for the benefit of the next buyer of their cars, do at least consider that subsequent buyers may include a lot of ex-Mercedes SL owners and other luxury GT owners who will expect a GT car to be as "fully" equipped as the cars they are used to. This is a contrast to buyers of the mid-engine cars (360/430/458), who are looking more for "sport" than GT, and often prefer a car that has fewer options and is lighter or more raw. Or at least the sports crowd has a more varied idea of what the "ideal" car may be and often will accept a car with fewer comfort/convenience options.

 

Well said

 

No car looks as good in red than an Fcar.

There is nothing better than driving a red Ferrari IMVHO.

 

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Here's a pic of mine. Red or black should still be good for resale.

 

Magneride and cruise are not necessary if you don't plan to drive the California more than to the bank once a month, which is silly but many Ferrari owners are silly enough to not drive their cars. If you plan on actually having FUN in the car, and I highly suggest that you do, then get the magneride and the cruise, they are really necessary to make even a short drive more comfortable. Your track experience will improve with magneride too.

Rick

 

Rick's wry humor aside, MagneRide is one of the best automotive innovations from the US in recent times. Yes, the first generation MagneRide was developed by Delphi (GM) and debuted on the Cadillac STS! The current generation is the third I think. Google it to learn more. MagneRide is what gives cars equipped with it their superior ride and handling combination, switchable to various modes (only between "comfort" and "sport" on Californias, but additional settings are available on 458s). That said, there are some who say they can't tell the difference between modes (I'm not one of them), and for them, perhaps the cost of the option isn't worth it.

Red/tan still remains a great choice. Personally, I like Californias in metallics.
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Welcome to the forum.

 

I should have added, Welcome to the forum and to the wonderful world of the Ferrari Experience! Your California will get the same attention no matter the color. I have driven a red Cali for the last three years, all year long, getting tons of attention. I now also have a metalic gray FF and it gets just as much attention! So, pick the color you like, but red is perfect! I would also suggest adding stitched Cavalino's, the embossed prancing horse in the headrests are stitched and look way cool! Your red special stitching will look GREAT, both of my Cali's had it (still have the second Cali). Now to confuse you, both of my Cali's had a yellow tach and they look great but my FF has a white tach and I will pick white in my future Ferrari's if there are any.

Rick

 

+1, though the non-color dependent attention factor may be different in different geographic areas. Around here, my car tends to blend in with the sea of gray or silver BMWs and Mercedes on our freeways.

Rick, why a white tach over yellow?

 

The yellow tach looks great. The white tach looks great too but may be a little easier to see during the day. At night the yellow sort of disappears and becomes off white so the white tach looks far better and is easier to read at night.

I saw white instruments in a Porsche and kinda liked them. My FF was intended to be a dealer demo car but never made it, I bought it, and it had white. I would have ordered yellow from my Cali experience but in future cars it will be white.

 

Congratulations on your purchase the Cali is a great car

I suggest you have a play on the Ferrari configurator for a contrasting carpet

If you don't go for the matching (beige in your case) armrest, tunnel and A pillar combination that MANY do, then I would consider a contrast colour carpet

Black carpet is popular to match the black armrest and tunnel and a pillar and dash top

I find black to confining but it's a cheap way of not paying the $2k for matching colours on the three surfaces mentioned

If you want to see what the black surfaces look like have a look at the copart thread, most of the cars there have the non matching surfaces

I have red carpet and red stiching to match the Rosso corsa exterior

I think it looks great, and I would recommend you look at it in the configurator

Whatever colour carpet I'd recommend contrast stitching, perhaps black or red, I would go red

It's one of the cheapest options and really lifts the interior

I'd recommend going with diamond seats if you want to go for a GT luxury look, and Daytona if you want a sporty look that's uncomfortable but pretty

I won't get Daytona again but they look great

Standard seats would make the car harder to sell IMO, I think they look boring and the majority of owners spec non standard seat style

If go for yellow or red calipers, yellow ties in well with the shields and wheel logos

I have red and it looks good but not quite as good as yellow IMO

Cruise and magneride are essential

Just as important on a garage queen like mine that I drive 90 days a year or ricks Ferrari daily beater that needs weathertec snow mats for going off road and spends 60-90 days in the snow, mud and rain

If you like carbon fibre, the number plate surround is cheap at just under $1000

Get the red carpet

Brown carpet is boring

 

I noticed on the configurator that it is either Magneride or Handling Special Package when configuring.

What is the difference between the two and which one would be preferable given the differences?

Thanks.

Walter

 

Excellent summary by N4S. You didn't specify your location. If you like to drive top down during mornings or evenings when it can be chilly (I do weekend pleasure drives in the early morning to avoid traffic), I'd suggest the heated seats. I put a 160GB iPod in my car but hardly ever listen to the stereo because the engine soundtrack is much better.

If you click my name and look at my earliest threads, you'll see a more fulsome explanation for how I ended up with my colors and options. Like you, I initially wavered on red. My next Ferrari probably won't be red. As you start adding more options, the price will quickly increase!

Congrats on the order and post pics when you take delivery!

 

The journalists that have driven the handling option suggest its more appropriate to those that are going to take the car to the track or who push the car

I really like my memory heated seats but if we keep suggesting more options your likely to spend 25k in options and you have to stop somewhere

Unless you are one of the fly it from Italy to the USA for $5000 type A personality styles, "money is no object, I want my Ferrari and I want it now, and $5000 is one hand at the casino"

I have read the handling speciale puts the bias towards handling of the ride/handling compromise

There is a test in EVO magazine that's worth reading

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/282034/ferrari_california_handling_speciale_review.html

And suggest you find another couple of articles to provide some balance

I have the Ferrari PDF from my dealer listing the suspension differences is you post or PM me your email address I will email the PDF to you

 

Welcome to your first ferrari .. I just ordered my 2nd california and my first is similar to yours . For the second the significant changes I made was switched from the daytona to diamond seats (although the daytonas are great ), I added the back up camera I really was never comfortable in tight spaces with backing up several blind spots.. I also got the sports handling package. The driver and passenger kick plates . I changed the interior to couio and changed the carpet to black I really did not like the brown just did not look good in my opinion. I also added most of the carbon fiber available which is pricey but at least need the steering wheel .. The details are really up to you but for your first ferrari nothing like red...
I also recommend the stitched horses in the body color.. However you choose you will love the car.. THere is another thread that lists my car in more details although I made some changes since i posts that list...
best of luck
Larry

 

SOunds like it will be great . No need to worry about the battery charger as the california will come with a battery charger and car cover included...
Larry

 

I would consider magneride a must have whether puttering around town or at speed. On the battery front, I too keep mine in Florida in winter and have no issues if it's sitting for a month...it starts right up. Longer than that, I don't know.

 

MagneRide will also help when it's time to sell the car. Not so much that you get back the price of the option but it will move while other cars without it sit.

 

Congrats on your proposed order. I ordered mine in the late half of 2012 and received my California 30 in early Dceember 2012. It is a 2013 model obviously and the photos are attached. I ordered it with the Handling Speciale Package and its a dream! I love the car, haev had it since the 14th of December and just hit 2800 miles after the New Year! Its awesome!
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Your car looks great. I also just ordered a 2013 with the handling package and the silver grills very similar to your car.. I really like the silver grills on very nice.. It will likely be a march /april delivery.
Larryh

 

Love the vintage grill package on the car, looks fabulous! After seeing it I kinda wondered why Ferrari didn't do it that way from the beginning.